King Salman Orders Name Change of Saudi Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, Housing

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
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King Salman Orders Name Change of Saudi Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, Housing

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud issued on Sunday an order to amend the name of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.

It will now be called the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.

Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the move.

He emphasized that the name change reflects the ongoing commitment to developing an advanced urban environment in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

This effort aims to boost the ministry's overall performance and its municipalities to achieve sustainable urban development plans, he remarked. Additionally, it aims to improve the quality of life in cities and develop the housing sector to provide innovative services.

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs was established by royal order in 1975 with the responsibility for urban planning and development of municipal and rural areas. It has also been tasked with managing municipal services to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

In 2020, a royal decree merged the Ministry of Housing into the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, becoming the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. The move sought to ensure the continuation of achievements and fulfill the aspirations of the Kingdom, positioning it among advanced countries.



Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Military Escalation in Yemen after Israeli Airstrikes

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Military Escalation in Yemen after Israeli Airstrikes

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia expressed its deep concern on Sunday over the latest military escalation in Yemen after the Israeli attacks in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeidah.
The statement stressed that these developments "exacerbate the current tension in the region”.
In a statement on X platform, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The Ministry is following with great concern the military escalation in Yemen following the Israeli attacks that targeted Hodeidah province on Saturday, July 20, 2024,” emphasizing that “these developments aggravate the current tension in the region and undermine ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza”.
The ministry also called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to distance the region and its people from the dangers of war. It also called on the international community and active influential parties to fulfill their responsibilities to end conflicts in the region.
Moreover, the ministry affirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continued efforts to end the war on Gaza and affirmed its continuous support for peace efforts in Yemen to spare its people more suffering and achieve security and peace in the region.
On Sunday, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, affirmed that Saudi Arabia has no relation to or participation in the targeting of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. 
He emphasized in a statement posted on the ministry's X platform account that Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace to be violated from any direction.